Henry woke me early that morning, his usual cheerful demeanor making it impossible to grumble about the early hour. "We're heading into the city today," he announced with a smile as he handed me a hot chocolate.
It wasn't until we were in the car that he told me where we were going: Manhattan. Apparently, we lived in a beautiful area called Greenwich, which I already suspected was expensive. Henry mentioned he'd inherited the house, which explained how we could afford to live there. As we crossed into Manhattan, the skyline unfolded before us—towering buildings piercing the sky like monuments to ambition. It was mesmerizing.
Henry parked the car and gestured toward a massive building. The name "Goldman Sachs" was etched on the front in bold, gleaming letters. My jaw dropped.
"Surprised?" Henry teased, clearly enjoying my reaction.
I stared at the building, gaping like a kid seeing a magic trick. "You worked here?" I asked incredulously.
"Sure did," he replied with a chuckle. "Last week, you were reading that finance book, and I figured I'd let you in on this little part of my life."
I remembered that moment. I'd tried to hide the advanced finance book at first, thinking it would be too weird for a seven-year-old to read. But Henry caught me and didn't seem surprised at all. It was like nothing I did fazed him, so I stopped caring about pretending to be a normal kid. Why bother when he just accepted all my quirks?
We walked into the building, and Henry greeted a man waiting in the lobby. He looked to be in his 50s, with sharp features and an air of confidence. They hugged like old friends, exchanging pleasantries about how long it had been since they last saw each other.
"This must be Ethan," the man said, turning his attention to me. "I've heard a lot about you."
I introduced myself, and we followed him to the elevators. His name was Sam Jr., and as the elevator ascended, I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place surrounded by so many professionals in suits. But Henry's presence grounded me.
We arrived at the 15th floor and entered a massive office. Along the way, staff greeted Henry and Sam respectfully. Inside, they ordered coffee for themselves and hot chocolate for me. I sat in a huge chair near Henry, taking in the grand surroundings.
"You never told me you worked in finance," I said to Henry, still in mild disbelief.
"You never asked," he replied with a grin.
"Why did you quit?" I asked bluntly. "Did you get bored, or was it because of your daughter's sickness?"
Henry's smile softened, and Sam looked at me, clearly surprised by my directness. Henry just laughed. "Right on point," he said, his tone both amused and sad.
I decided to lighten the mood. "So, what's the big reveal? Did you bring me here to flex on your seven-year-old adopted son?"
Henry and Sam both burst out laughing. "I admit," Sam said, "he told me you were smart and blunt, but I didn't expect this level of wit."
I just smiled at their antics, taking a sip of the hot chocolate.
Henry finally explained. "I brought you here because, as my son, you should know about your inheritance. There's no one else in the family, so everything will go to you."
That silenced the room for a moment. Henry's voice softened as he continued. "Our family's tradition is unique. No matter how much money we make, the inheritance is capped at $100 million. Anything beyond that is donated to charity. The idea is to avoid creating lazy heirs who fight over wealth. Houses and cars are excluded from the limit, but everything else falls under this rule."
"So, basically, we're rich?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood again. "Does that mean I can just be lazy and not worry about money?"
They both laughed. Sam chimed in, "If it were that simple, Henry wouldn't have worked so hard. And he definitely wouldn't have brought you here today."
I thought about it for a moment. "So, we're not like those conglomerate families who keep building wealth for generations?" I asked, a little disappointed.
Henry laughed loudly and turned to Sam. "See? I told you he's like a sponge, soaking up everything from books and the internet."
Internally, I thought, Oh, so he thinks I learned everything from books? Well, that's better, I guess.
Sam admitted, "You really are impressive."
I sipped my hot chocolate and said nonchalantly, "I'm not a circus show waiting for praise. This is just me."
Both of them laughed again.
Henry continued, "Our family's motto is about responsibility. Money isn't ours to hoard; it's a tool. Each generation gets the same start, and what they do with it is up to them. Some succeed, some don't. But the goal is to avoid entitlement."
I frowned, thinking about what Henry said. "What about the rest of the family? Don't we have cousins, uncles, or other relatives? Why don't they ever visit or talk to us?"
Henry's expression turned somber. "We have a large family, but most of us have drifted apart over the years. I haven't spoken to my cousins since I was in my twenties, after my father passed away. Losing him... well, it made it hard to keep in touch with anyone."
I nodded, processing his words. It felt strange that we had a big family but no one seemed to care about staying connected. "It's weird," I said, "but it kind of makes sense. If everyone's just focused on their own lives and money, it's easy to lose touch."
Henry nodded. "That's part of why I wanted to bring you here today—to show you where you come from, what you'll inherit, and how to carry that forward responsibly."
Then I turned to Sam. "What about your family? How are you connected to us?"
Sam smiled warmly. "My family has been close to yours for generations. My grandfather was your great-grandfather's lawyer, and that relationship has continued. I'm the current family lawyer for your branch, and when I retire, my son will take over."
I raised an eyebrow. "So your family has been involved with ours for decades? That's some loyalty."
Sam nodded. "It is. But it's also mutual respect. Working with your family has given us stability and opportunities. My son is currently gaining experience at JP Morgan as their head lawyer in mergers and acquisitions, but he knows he'll eventually step into my role."
"Wow," I said, impressed. "Your family sounds like an elite one."
Sam chuckled. "Thankfully, we don't have the same strict inheritance rules as yours, so we've managed to build our own wealth over time. But we continue this partnership out of loyalty and history."
Henry added, "Sam's family has been invaluable. They've helped us navigate some of the toughest legal and financial challenges."
I took another sip of my hot chocolate. "Well, that's good to know. But wouldn't it be better to teach the next generation how to trade instead of just handing over the money?"
Henry smirked and turned to Sam. "Gimme the $5."
Sam grumbled, pulling out his wallet and handing Henry a bill.
"What was that about?" I asked, confused.
Henry grinned. "I bet Sam that you'd say exactly that."
I stared at him for a moment. "So?"
Henry's tone turned serious. "Not every family member is willing to teach their children. Some are estranged or uninterested. I had an uncle who was a brilliant investor but had a bad relationship with his kids. They blew their inheritance on frivolous things because they never learned the value of money or how to handle it."
"So, when do I start learning?" I asked, eager to shift the focus to something more positive.
Sam interjected with a smile. "Henry already set up a trading account for you under his supervision. When he thinks you're ready, he'll fund it."
I couldn't hide my excitement. The idea of learning how to trade and invest felt like the perfect challenge. "That sounds fun," I admitted. "Making money grow out of nothing is like magic."
Henry nodded. "Exactly. And it's a skill that will serve you for life. But remember, it's not just about making money—it's about doing something meaningful with it."
As we left the office, I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and anticipation. This was more than just a glimpse into Henry's past; it was the beginning of a new chapter for me, one where I'd learn not just about wealth, but about responsibility and legacy.